Multile-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser



June 2, 1964 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,135,271

MULTIPLE-SLIDE, SINGLE-RESERVOIR COIN DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1960 INVENTORS Meme/LL Ke Kaus/2 HEQQY E EQBEKE manna June 2, 1964 M. KRAKAUER ETAL MULTIPLE-SLIDE, SINGLE-RESERVOIR COIN DISPENSER Filed May 4, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 2, 1964 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 3,135,271

MULTIPLE-SLIDE, SINGLE-RESERVOIR COIN DISPENSER Filed May 4, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 59KHUEP ERBEKE INVENTORS ieee/L1.

'fax/@Y E ATTORNEY 4 w A EL MULTIPLE-SLIDE, SINGLE-RESERVOIR com DISPENSER Filed May 4, 1960 June 2, 1964 M. KRAKAUER ETAL 5 Sheets-Shee'rI 4 Il: I

INVENTORS EPR/L Kmq/mue@ Bix/RY E. VERSE/ 5 'II lllllll ILIIIIIIIII ATTORNEY June 2, 1964 M. KRAKAur-:R ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /Zo /74 548 9g 22o la? 549212 INVENTORS MERE/LL KQHKQUER B//EN/v E. l/Eeaske WRNEY L United States Patent O "ice l v `3,135,271 MULTWLE-SLIDE, SlNGLE-RESERVOIR CUINDISPENSER Merrill lKrakauer, Livingston, and Henry E. Verbeke,

Chester, NJ., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Canteen Company of America, Chicago, lil., a corporation of Delaware g Filed May 14, `1960, Ser. No. 26,81 6 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 4) Our` invention relates tov a coin dispenser and more particularly toa multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispensen for concomitantly dispensing a plurality of coins in change. v Y Y e, vGreat diiculty has been experienced in the prior art in dispensingaplurality of coins in change. All practical coin dispensers of the prior art either dispense a number of coins sequentially by repeated operation of a dispensing member associated with a single coin reservoir or they employ a plurality of dispensing members associated with respective coinreservoirs. The relative simplicity of a mechanism which concomitantly dispenses a plurality of coinsv from a single reservoir is obvious.

Attempts which have been made in the prior art to producea structure capable of` concomitantly dispensing a plurality of coins from a single reservoir have met with failure for a number of reasons. The coins in the reservoir from which, coins are to be dispensed vary greatly in thickness. If an attempt is made to dispense a plurality of c oins simultaneously from a column of coins in the reservoir, the possibility exists that the mechanism may become jammed or stuck owing to the engagement of a coin between the dispensing memberand the stationary reservoir. Again, owing to the variation in thickness of the coins, one coin `mayprovide a driving connection between two dispensing members when it is desired to operate only one of the members. As a result of these and similar defects, it may occur` that less coins than` are desired to be dispensed are delivered upon operation,of the dispenser, It is possible also lthat more coins than it is desired to dispense are 4delivered to the customer.v Further, if the mechanism sticks or becomes jammed, the parts of the dispenser may be damaged.

4As is known, coins suchV as nickels, especially newlyminted nickels, have peripheral rims which may interfere with relative movement between the nickels of a column when `an attempt is made to slide the coins relative t each other. This effect, which may be termed the Queeg effect, can cause the dispensing mechanism to jam or it can cause more than the desired number of coins to be e withdrawn from the supply.

change is given in the event that a coin is stuck between the reservoir and a dispensing member. We so arrange our dispenser that a coin being dispensed cannot provide a driving connection between two dispensing members. The possible undesirable result of the Queeg effect is obviated. Gur multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser selectively delivers different numbers of coins upon its operation.

One object of our invention is to provide a multipleslide, single-reservoir'coin dispenser which selectively dispenses'dilerent numbers of coins in change. e

Another object of our invention is to provide a multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser which is certain in operation to ensure that the correct number of coins is given in change.

A further object of our invention is `to provide amultif ple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser which is pr ov tected against jamming while ensuring that the correct number of coins is given in change. i

A still further object of our inventionjs to provide a multiple-slide, single-reservoir' coin v dispenser whihis simpler in construction than are coin dispensers of the prior art. e i

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description In general our invention contemplates the provision of a coin dispenser having a `reservoir containing acolunln of coins and` a pluralityof superposed slideshayinglgisr tering countersunk openings for receivingcoins from the column. We provide our dispenserwith means :fonse: lectively coupling acoin slide drive withtwo Aonmore slides.` Upon operation of thedrive, the slides withdraw coins from the column and dispensethem to the customer. We so construct and arrange our slides as to account for variations in thickness of coins being dispensed., ,The construction `is such Athat no coin normally can provide a drivingconnection between slides. Weprovide our.dis penser with means for protecting the dispenseragainst jamming owing to the engagementof a coin between the top slide and the reservoir or owing to the engagement between rims of adjacent ,coins while ensuring that the correct number ofcoins is dispensed.

lIn the accompanying drawings which form part of. the instant specication and which are to be readin conjunce tion therewith `and in whichlike reference numerals are usedto indicate like partsinthe various views; i-

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a lcoin mechanism employing our multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser. f

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of acoin mechanism provided with Vour multiple-slide, single-reser- Voir coindispenser.

FIGURE 3 is aside elevation withparts in section .vof the operating mechanism of one form of merchandisingv machine with which our multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin mechanism may beassociated. A

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary. side elevationof ajcoin mechanism provided with our multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vie'w .withpar'ts in section of our multiple-slide, .single-reservoir. coin dispenser.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View, of our multiple-slide; single-reservoir coin dispenser taken along the line 6-6 ofFlGURES.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the coin slide lock of our multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin'A dispenser.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view. showing the construction and arrangement of the slides of our multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin.dispenser.

FIGURE 9 is a detached view of the changer slide assembly. Y l

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE l of the drawings, one formof coin mechanism, indicatedgenerally by the reference character 10, with which" our coin` dispenser may be used includes a coin separator and. slug rejector, indicated generally by the reference character 12,` into which coins can be deposited through a coinslot 14;v The coin separatorand slug rejector 12 may be of any suitable type known to the art such, for example, as that shown in copending applicationfor Christain Gabrielsen, Serial No. 469,183, tiled November 16, l954,.now Patent No. 2,975,880. Coins passing outof the .slug rejector 12 pass through a coin totalizer, indicated generally by the reference character 16. This register 16 preferably` is'.

Coin Released Locking Mechanism. As is explained more fully in the Krakauer et al. application referred to hereinabove, a quarter passing downwardly through the totalizer 16 actuates a feelerlS, a nickel passing downwardly through the totalizer 16 actuates feeler 21B, while a dime actuates both the feeler 20 and a feeler 22. In response to actuation of the feelers 18, 20, and 22 a totalizerpbar 24 moves downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 1 through an aggregate distance which isV the analogue of the sum in coins which pass through the totalizer 16. Bar 24 drives a stud 26 downwardly through the same distance as that distance through which the bar moves in response to the passage of coins through the totalizer.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2, stud 26 extends through wall 28 of the coin mechanism and its end remote from the bar 70 carries an eccentric bushing 30 adjustably positioned on the stud by a screw 31. A locking slide 32 supported for vertical sliding movement in respective brackets 34 and 36 carried by wall 28 rests on the bushing 30. We mount a block 38 in a predetermined position on the slide 32 by means of a screw 40. It will be seen from the structure thus far described that, as the bushing 30 moves downwardly, as is viewed in FIGURE 2, as the coins pass through the totalizer 16, the slide 32 carrying block 38 moves downwardly.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, one form of machine with which our coin dispenser may be associated includes a plurality of dispensing plungers 42 corresponding in number to the respective sections of the machine. We slideably mount the plungers 42 in a housing 44 for movement outboard of the machine, or to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3, and for a return movement. When a plunger is actuated by means of a knob 46 carried by the plunger, a dependent finger 48 on the plunger engages the machine operating bar 50 to slide the bar to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 3, in slots 52 formed in the machine frame. As the operating bar 50 moves to the left a cam plate 54 in the housing 44 moves a latch 56 into a position at which it engages the operating bar 50 during the return movement of a plunger 42 to ensure that the operating bar 50 returns with the actuated plunger 42. A pawl 58 rotatably supported on an end of the operating bar 50 is normally urged into its operative position by a spring 60 to cause the pawl to cooperate with the teeth of a rack 62 to prevent return movement of the plunger 42 until its outboard stroke is completed. Actuation of a plunger 42 in the manner described operates the dispensing mechanism of the machine.

be described in detail. Gabrielsen et al. Patent No. 2,565,766 and Gabrielsen Patent No. 2,652,304 disclose the details of dispensing mechanisms which may be operated by plunger 42.

We connect one end of a link 72 to the operating bar 50. A pin 74 connects the other end of link 72 to an arm 76 of a bell crank rotatably supported on a shaft 78 carried by the machine. frame. One end of a spring Si) coiled around shaft 78 bears against a bracket S2 carried by the machine frame. The other'end of the spring 80 engages the other arm 84 of the bell crank including arm 76 to urge the bell crank to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. A pin 86 carried by arm 142 rides in a slot 88 formed in the lower end of a locking link 90 supported by a pin 92 carried by the machine frame. Pin 92 is positionedin a slot 94 in the link 90. From the structure just described it will be seen that when a plunger 42 is moved outwardly, operating bar Si) moves to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3 to actuate link 72 to drive the bell crank including arms '76 and 84 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG- URE 3 to move link 912 upwardly and to the left. The bifurcated upper end 96 of link 90 engages a stud 98 to move the pin to the left when the plunger' 42 is operated in the manner just described.

, Referring again to FIGURE 2, our coin dispenser includes a locking slide 100 supported in guides 102 car- Since this mechanismV per se forms no part of the instant invention, it will not' 4 Y ried by the wall 28 and by a locking slide bearing 10 formed on a plate 166 supported for vertical sliding movementon wall 28 by pins 10S disposed in a slot 110 in the plate 106. The locking slide carries the pin or stud 98 which is actuated by the link 90 in the manner described hereinabove. When a plunger 42 is operated to move stud 98 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3, it moves the locking slide 100 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2. A at spring 112 secured to the locking slide 1110 by any suitable means such as by rivets 114 normally positions a stop pawl 116 carried by the locking slide in a position to engage the stop block 33 as the slide 10i) moves to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2. This structure and the interaction between the locking slide stop pawl and the stop block 33 carried by the locking slide 32 is described in more detail in the copending application of `Krakauer et al. referred to hereinabove.

Our coin dispenser includes a price Vdifferential disk 118 supported on a shaft 120 carried by the wall 28. We form the disc 118 with respective cam surfaces, the lowest surface 122 of which represents a price corresponding to no price differential. The other respective cam surfaces may represent price differentials in multiples of the base coin such as a nickel used in the machine. For example, cam surface 124 corresponds to a differential of a nickel, while the respective cam surfaces 126, 12%, and correspond respectively to price differentials of ten cents, fifteen cents, and twenty cents.

A spring 132 connected between a pin 134 on wall 28 and a tab 136 on one end of a price differential link 138 normally urges the link upwardly as viewed inY FIGURE 2 to cause a roller 14@ on the other end of the price differential link 138 to bear against a cam surface of the price differential disk 113. Slots 142 and 144 in the link 133 respectively ride on shaft 120 and on a pin or stud 146 carried by Wall 28 to guide link 13S in its movement.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, one means which may be employed to drive the price differential disk 118 includes respective price differential crank fingers 148 associated with those machine sections for which a price differential is provided. We mount the crank fingers 148 on a shaft 150 carried by the machine frame. Shaft 150 carries for rotation therewith a crank arm 152, the end of which is formed with an offset lug 154. Upon operation of a plunger 46 with which a linger 14S is associated, the nger 48 strikes the crank finger 148 to rotate the shaft 150 in a counterclockwise direction. When the machine is assembled with our coin mechanism, this action causes lug 154 to engage one of a number of studs 170 on the disk to drive the disk in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2. It will be `understood that we provide crank fingers 148 for only those sections of the machine which sell at a price which differs from the price to which the lowest level 122 of cam 11S corresponds. For purposes of clarity we have indicated the price differential disk 118 in phantom in FIGURE 3, and we have indicated the price differential disk drive crank arm 152 in phantom in FIGURE 2. As is shown in FIGURE 2, a spring 172 extending between one of a number of lugs 174 on the price differential disk 118 and a pin 176 on wall 28 normally urges the price differential disk 118 to rotate in a `counterclockwise direction normally to .cause the roller 141i to be positioned on the no price differential cam surface 122.

As has been explained hereinabove, if a selected article sells at the base price for which the machine is set upon the deposit of a sum aggregating at least this base price in the machine, the deposit aggregating slide 32 moves to a position at which its stop block 38 is out of the path of movement of the stop pawl 116 carried by the locking slide 10i?. Thus upon operation of a plunger 42, the parts of the machine are free to permit a dispensing operation to take place. If the section corresponding to the selected articles is provided with a price differential, operation of the associated plunge 42 causes the `finger 48 to operate the associated crank 148 to cause the price differential disk drive crank 152 to rotate the price differential disk 118 to move the roller 140 from the lowest cam surface 122 on which it was initially set to one of the higher surfaces 124, `126, 128, and 130 depending on the price differential provided. This action )causes the price differential link 138 to move downwardly through a distance determined bythe price differential. For example, if the roller 140 is driven onto the cam surface 124 correspond-` ing to a Vfive cent price differential, the price differential link moves downwardly through a certain distance. If the roller 140 were moved onto the cam surface 128 corresponding to a fteen cent price differential, the price differential link would move down through three times the certain distance it moved as the roller was moved onto thefive cent price differential cam surface 124.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, we rotatably mount a locking-slide `bearing-actuating lever 178 on a shaft 180 carried by thewall 28. A pin 182 connects the lever 178 at a point intermediate its length to the price differential link 138. Another pin 184 connects the end of the bearing actuating lever 178 to the plate 106 carrying the bearing 104. From the structure just described it will be seen that` as the roller 140 is moved from the no price differential cam surface 122 of the price differential disk 118 to another cam surface of the disk, the price differential link 138 moves downwardly to turn the lever 178 around shaft 180 in a counterclockwise direction through a predetermined'distance corresponding to the amount of the price differential. When this occurs, locking slide bearing i 104 moves downwardly to permit the locking slide 100 to move through a predetermined distance in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2. As a result of this movement, the locking slide 32 carrying the block 38 must move downwardly through a distance which is greater than the distance corresponding to the base price by the amount of the price differential in order for the parts -of the machine to be freed to permit a purchase to be made.

Our dispenser includes a credit gear rack slide 186 having a bifurcated end 188 by means of which the slide hangs on the stud 26. A pin 190 carried by the Wall 28 rides in a slot 192 formed in the credit gear rack slide 186 to guide the slide in its movement. Any suitable means such as screws 194V secure' the credit gear rack 196 to 'the' slide 186 for movement therewith. Rack 196engages a pinion 198 rotatably supported on a shaft 2,00 on` the price differential link 138. Pinion 198 engages the teeth of a change determining rack 202 having a slot 204 by means of which the rack is supported for sliding movement on studs 206 carried by the wall 28.

From the structure just Vdescribed it will be seen that as the stud 26 carrying bushing 30 moves downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 2, through a distance corresponding to the aggregate sum in coins passing through the coin totalizer 16 the credit gear rack slide 186 moves downwardly through the same distance to drive pinion 198 to move the change determining rack 202 upwardly,

as viewed in FIGURE 2, through the same distance. Thus upon the deposit of coins, the change determining rack moves upwardly through a distance corresponding to the aggregate sum of coins passing through the totalizer 16. If a price differential is provided for the item selected to cause adownward movement of the price differential link 138 upon operation of the corresponding plunger 42, pinion 198 moves downwardly along the rack 196 and at the same time it moves the change determining rack 202 downwardly through the amount of the price differential. Thus the amount of the price differential is subtracted from the credit established by movement of the change determining rack 202 upon the deposit of coins in the machine.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 to 6, our coin dispenser includes a changer blade or slide housing, indi- Y '6 cated generally by the reference character 210, having a bracket 212 secured to a flange 214 on the wall 28 by any suitable means such as by a screw 216. Weform the housing 210 with an annular boss 218 adapted to receive a coin tube 220 for housing a supplyV ofcoils 222 such as nickels or the like to be delivered in change. We employ any suitable means such as screws 224 for securing a base plate 226 to the housing 210. Wevdispose a plurality of respective changerl coin slides or blades 228, 230, 232, and 234 in superposed relationship within the space enclosed by the housing 210 and by the plate 226. As can be seen by reference to FIG- URE 9, the three lower slides are formed with respective offset lugs 236, 238, and 240 adapted to be engaged in a manner to be described hereinafter when the slides or blades are actuated. We rotatably mount an arm 242 having an offset portion 244 on a stud 246 carried by the top slide 234. We dispose one end of a spring 248 coiled around stud 246 in a flange 250 formed on the top of the stud 246 and dispose the other end of the spring in an opening in the portion of the arm 242 leading to the offset arm portion 244. v

Referring again to FIGURE 2, a screw 252 secures a pile of spring blades 254 to the housing 210 to hold the coin dispensing blades 228, 230, 232, and 234 againstthe side of the housing 210. As shown in FIGURES 2, 4, and 5, screw 256 secures a spring 258 to the housing 210 to hold hte blades 228, 230, 232, and 234 against bottom plate 226.

Referring nowhto FIGURES 4 and 5, the change determining rack 202 has a portion extending through a slot260 in wall 28 to a changer cam actuator wire support 262 disposed on the other side of the wall 28 from that side on which rack 202 is disposed. The support 262 is formed with a plurality of holes 264, one of which carries the changer cam actuator wire 266. The hole 264 in which the wire is disposed is determined by the base price for which the machine is set. The offset lower end 268 of the wire 266 engages a ange 270 formed on the changer cam actuator 272 which is rotatably supported on a shaft 273 carried by the wall 28. We rotatably mount a change determining cam 278 on a shaft 274 carried by an extension 277 formed on the changer drive slide 276. A spring 280extending between a ylug 282 on the changer cam 278 and a pin 284 on the slide extension 277 normally urges the cam to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5. From the structure just described it will be seen that after the change rack 202 moves upwardly through a certain distance the offset portion 268 of wire 266 engages flange 270. Upon further movement of the rack 202 and support 262, wire 266 pivots drive arm 272 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5. This movement of the arm 272 causes an offset lug 279 on the arm 272 to engage a lug 281 on the changer cam 278 to drive the cam in a counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 280. As will be explained hereafter, cam 278 is driven through an aggregate distance proportional tothe sum to be given in change.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, the locking slide carries a Shaft 286 which supports a roller 288 disposed in, a slot 290 formed in the end of an arm 292 rotatably A spring 296 extending between apin 298 on arm 292 and,

supported on a shaft 294 carried by the Wall 28.

the wall 28. When, in response tot movement ofthe;

locking slide 100, roller 304 moves to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 4, lever 308 rotates in a counterclockwise,

direction. A stud 312 carried by the end of lever 308 A shaft 302 on the arm i rests in a slot 314 formed in an overload link 316 rotatably carried by a shaft 313 on a changer slide coupling arm 320 rotatably supported on a shaft 322 on the slide 276. We connect a spring 324 between link 316 andn arm 320. A spring 323 extending betweenra pin 325 ou arm 320 and a pin 327 on the slide 276 normally urges the arm 320 to move in a clockwise `direction asV viewed in FIGURE 5.

From the structure just described it will be seen that when the change drive lever 333 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, pin 312 acts on link 316 rst to tend to rotate the changer slide coupling arm 320 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5. This action brings an offset lug 326 on arm 32? into engagement with one of the surfaces 328 of the change determining cam 278. At the same time this action positions an offset flange 330 on the changer slide coupling arm 32th behind one or more of the lugs 236, 238, 240, and the arm 244 depending upon the amount of rotary movement of the coupling arm 320 permitted by the action of the change determining cam 273. After the change slide coupling arm has thus been positioned, upon further movement of the changer drive lever 363 the changer slide 276, together with the coupling arm 329, moves to the right, as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5, to aotuate those blades 228, 230, 232, and 234, the lugs of which are engaged by ilange 330. A lug 333 on slide 276 returns theA actuated blades to their position within the housing in a manner to be described. As the parts return a cam 337 on flange 33t?` prevents the flange from catching on the flange 347 of the locking link 34E. A pendulous member 229 rotatably supported onwall 23 has a stop 231 adapted to engage teeth 233 in cam 273 to prevent jarring of the machine from disturbing the position of cam 278.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 8, We provide theY respective blades or slides 228, 230, 232, and 234 with respective openings 332, 334, 336, and 338. These openings are formed with upper and lower camming surfaces which may advantageously take the form of countersinks or the like. As will be ,apparent from the description given below of the function of the camming surfaces the opening 332 in the lowermost slide need have no lower camming surface. For ease in manufacture, however, we make all the slides 228, 230, 232 and 234 uniform. It would normally be expected that, in accordance with the operation outlined hereinabove, as the slide 276 moved to the right, the engaged ones of slides 228, 230, 232 and 23d would move to the right with the slide to cause coins disposed in the slide or blade openings 332, 334, 336 and 338 to fall through the openings and through an opening 340 in bottom 226 to be delivered to the customer. This operation would result if all the coins t0 be given in change were of the same standard thickness. However, as has been pointed out hereinabove, such is not the case. Coins, such as nickels, which. are given in change vary greatly in thickness. Thus it might be expected that, in a multiple-slide singlereservoir coin dispensing mechanism, either the mechanism would jam or more or less than the desired' number of coins would be given in change. We so construct and arrange our coin dispenser that these undesirable results are obviated. We have discovered that, as a general rule, if the correct sum in coins is to be given by a number of superposed slides operating from a single reservoir such as a stationary coin tube, the distance from the lower edge of the upper cam surface of the top slide 234 to the bottom of rthe lowerm'ost slide 228 of the plurality of slides should normally be less than the accumulated height of four of the thinnest coins of the denomination being dispensed. That is to say, if the distance from the lower edge of the upper cam surface of the top slide of a plurality to the bottom of the lowest slide is not less than the accumulated height of a number of the thinnest coins equal to the number of slides, then the coin resting on the top coin of this number will catch between the coin tube or the like and the coin driving surface of the top slide to jam the mechanism. It will be seen that the distance indicated at b in FIGURE 8 from the bottom of the upper cam surface of the top slide 234 to the bottom of a lowermost slide 228 is greater than the accumulated thickness of four of the coins illustrated in the iigure. (Dwing to the fact `that We provide a resilient connection between the uppermost slide 234 and the slide drive as will be explained hereinafter, we are able to violate the rule outlined above for the top slide 234. This arrangement has the advantage of permitting us to construct our upper slide in a practical manner so that its coin edge engaging surface need not be a knife edge. It will be remembered, of course, that the distance between the lower edge of the upper cam surface of the slide 232 and the bottom of the lowermost slide must be less than the accumulated thickness of three of the thinnest coins of the denomination being dispensed.` We have also constructed our slides so that the distance a, indicated in FIGURE 8 between the top edge of the lower cam surface of a slide and the bottom of the slide immediately therebelow is greater than the thickness :of the thickest coin encountered to be given in change to prevent a single such coin or the like from providing a driving engagement between two slides. It is to be noted that we provide a space 2I7 between the top of housing 210 and the upper surface of the uppermost slide 234. Thus, when, for any reason, a coin to be dispensed tends to provide a driving engagement between two adjacent slides by reason of its engagement with the lower camming surface of the upper one of the adjacent slides, this upper slide and the slide if any, above this slide are permitted to move upwardly as viewed in FIGURE 8 to allow the coin to be dispensed.

Owing to our construction to be described in detail hereinafter, we need apply the law stated above with respect to the thickness of a buildup of coins such as nickels only to the three lowermost slides 228, 230 and 232. A situation may occur in avdispenser designed to deliver up to four nickels in change that a succession of four thin nickels may be encountered. This condition is illustrated in FIGURE 8. It will be apparent from the showing of FIGURE 8 that as an attempt is made to operate all four blades or slides, the fth nickel fof the pile will engage between the top wall of the blade housing and the portion of the top slide between the two countersunk portions of the opening 338. Thus the normal expectation would be either that damage to the operating parts of the mechanism would result or that less than the required number of nickels would be dispensed. We have constructed our device to obivate this result. If the condition illus- `trated in FIGURE 8 prevails and four nickels are to be delivered in change so that the coupling arm 320 is permitted to move to the'limit by the change determimning cam 278 with the flange 338 behind all the lugs 236, 238, and 240 and behind the offset 244 fof arm 242, as the slide 276 moves to the right the three lower blades 228, 230, and 232 will move with the slide. Since the top nickel of the stackkof live is caught between the top slide 234 and the housing 220, this blade cannot move. As the slide 276 moves the flange 330 pivots the arm 242 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, to cock the spring 248. As the slide 232 moves to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 8, the upper countersunk surface of its opening 336 engages the underside of the nickel fourth from the bottom to push the nickel fifth from the bottom to a position above the portion of opening 338 between the countersunk portions. In this manner the top slide 234 is freed. When this occurs, the stored force in the cocked spring 243 moves the top slide to the right with the other slides to ensure that four nickels and no more are dispensed.

Owing to the Queeg effect discussed hereinabove, it may occur that an interengagement between the rims of a pair of adjacent nickels of a stack provides a driving connection between a slide Which is to be operated and a slide "which is not to be operated. Referring now tolFIGURES "to 7,'we rotatably mount a slide stop arm 341 on a shaft 345 carried by the'wall 28. For purposes of clarity we have 'shown the arm'341in perspective in FIGURE 7. This arm includes a lateral extension 343 provided with a rearward 'extension 342 which normally overlies the arm 242v and the lugs 236, 238,v and 240 disposed below the arm 242.' We form the lower edge of the arm 341 at one e'nd thereof with a'laterally extending ange 347 provided withanopening 344 through which the body of arm 320 extends'. The rearward extension 342 carries a stop 346. Stop`346'is normally disposed in the path of lugs 238 and 240'and of arm 242 to prevent movement of thev slides 230, 232, and 234. A spring 348 extending between a pin 350'on wall 28 and a hole 362 in the stop arm 341 normally urges the arm to move in a counterclockwise direction,as viewed in FIGURE 5, to position the stop 346 Ain tits' normal position. In response to a dispensing operation, the change slide-coupling arm 320 moves in a clockwise direction about its shaft 322 to engage one or more of the blades 228, 230, 232, and 234 as determined by .the position of the change determining cam 278. As thearm 320 moves into the position at which it would couple the lug 238 on the'blade 230, its iiange 330 first engages the underside of flange 347 to pivot the stop arm 340 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5, to move stop 346 outof the path of the lug 238. Assuming that only two nickels are to be delivered and further assuming that the rim of the nickel Vnext to the bottom nickel of the stack is in engagement with the rim of the nickel third from the bottom as the slide 276 moves to the right, three slides' 228,l 230, and 232 tend to Inlove to the right, a driving rengagementl between slides 230 and 232 being providedV by theengaged nickel rims. However, since stop"346 is in the path of lug 240, slide 232 cannot move and the connection between the nickels is broken to prevent more than the desired number of nickels from being dispensed.v

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the coin mechanism With which'ourooin dispenser is used includes a coin shelf 348 pivotally supported on the respective anges 214 and 350 f of the machine by means of studs 352 and 354. A spring 356 extending between a screw 355 on side flange 214 and a lug 358 onthe shelf 348 normally biases the shelf in a directionV such that its upper edge tends to move outwardly. This action Vis prevented by the engagement of the shelf with'a stop 362 carried by a bracket 365 forming part'of `the coin return mechanism, as will bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

v Coins coming froml the totalizer` 16 drop onto the shelfl348; DimesV and quarters fall onto a generally horizontalshelf portion 364'While nickels fall onto an inclined shelf portion 366(- A spring 368 normally biases an escapement lever 370 rotatably supported on a shaft 372 carried bythe wall 28 to a position at which a stop 374 ,on the lever 370 rests on the lower edge of an opening 376A in" the wall 28.` Stop 374 extends through opening 376 to` a position at which it is `in the path of nickels Vcounterclockwise direction, a pin 37 8 engages the underside of lever 370 to move stop 374 out of the path of nickelson the inclined chuteportion 366. A latch 380 rotatably lsupported on a shaft 382 carried bythe wall 328 isadapted to be actuated by the stop 374 on lever 370 to ensure that only one nickel at a time passes from the inclined chute portion to the coin tube 220. When the supply'of coins in the tube 220 is at a predetermined level,` thesecoins actuate a feeler 382 to move a full lever-386 rotatably supported on shaft 382 to a position atwhich a stop 388 on the other end of the lever prevents any ycoins'frorn passing into the coin tube. The operation of replenishing coins in the tube 220 is described in more with which our dispenser used may include a coin re y turn plunger 390 slideablysupported -in a housing 391l on the coin mechanism frame. When the plunger 390 is moved to the right, pins 392 carried by the plunger 390 Vpivota bell crank 394 in a counterclockwise direction.

A slot 396 formed in oneof the bell crank Varms engages a pin 398 carried by a coin return link 400.t Aspring 402 provides a resilient connection between a pin 406 on the link 400 and a pin 404 on a drive link 408 i guided in a bracket 410 Vcarried by wall 28. A spring 412 extending between'a lugl 414 secured to the link 408` and the bracket 410 normally urges the assembly( of links 406 and 408 upwardly. When the bell crank 394 pivots in a counterclockwise direction in response to the operation of plunger 390, link 408 moves downwardly to cause a roller 416 carried by a shaft 417 on the coin return link to move a reset lever 418 in a counterclockwise direction around its shaft 420 carried by wall 28. A spring 422carried by a pin 424 on the lever 418 normally positions a reset arm 426 carried by pin 424 in a position against a stop lug 428 on the lever 418. When the lever 418 rotates 'in the manner described, a'lug 430 on arm 426 engages roller 30 to reset the totalizer locking slide 32 and the credit gear rackV 186. The shaft 417 which supports a roller 416 extends through the wall 28 and carries the bracket 365 having the stop 362 which normally engages the shelf 348 to prevent it from tilting in a direction to return coins. Ascanbe seen by reference to FIGURE 4, when link 408 moves downwardly in response to operation of the plunger 390, bracket 365 moves downwardly to a position at which stop 362 moves below a cam 363 on the shelf to permit the lower edge of shelf 348 to move inwardly to return coins on the shelf to the customer. When the coin mechanism resets, stop 362 engages cam 363 on theshelf to return the shelf to its normal position. Referring again to FIGURE 2, arm 292 We connect a crank arm 438 to the shaft 354 of coin shelf 348 for movement therewith. We connect lthe end of the crank 438 remote from shaft 354 to the piston rod or wire 440 of an air dashpot 442 carried by a bracket 444. This dashpot regulates the movement of the coin shelf 348. In a similar manner we `connect the piston wire 446 of an air dashpot 448 to the locking slide 32 to regulate the action of the locking slide to ensure that a credit is properlyset up before the operating parts of the machine are freed.

Referring now'toFIGURES 1 and 2, the coin mechanism with which our`change maker is used includes a lever 450 rotatably supported on a shaft 452 on the frame;

mally urges rod 456' upwardly to bring the feeler 462 i into engagement with coins in the tube. As long as there is a sufficient supply of coins'in the tube 220,`lever 450 isheld insuch a position that dimes and quarters can pass from' the coin separator and slug rejector 12 to the totalizer 16.` The slide 276 has an extension 464 formed with a slot 466 for engaging a lug 468 on the crank 458. When the slide moves to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 2, it rotates crank 458 in a counterclockwise direction to move the feeler out of the tube. When sutiicient coins are in the tube, this action permits the coins to drop toward the changer blades. This structure is shown and described in the copending application of Krakauer et al. referred to hereinabove.

In operation of our coin dispenser, coins deposited in the slot I4 pass downwardly through the coin lseparator andslug rejector 12 and into the coin totalizer 16. In response to the operation of the totalizer 16, bushing 30 moves downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 2, through a distance corresponding to the aggregate sum in coins deposited in the machine. The stud 26 carrying bushing 38 drives the credit gear rack while bushing ,38 permits the locking slide 32 to move downwardly through the same distance. If a sum in coins equal to the purchase price of an article has been deposited, upon operation of the plunger 42 corresponding to the selected article a dispensing operation takes place.

As the credit geai rack 186 moves downwardly, it

drives pinion 198 to move the change determining rack 202 upwardly through the corresponding distance. If the selected article sells at a price greater than the base price for which the machine is set, actuation of a plunger 94 results in a downward movement of the price differential link 138 through a distance proportional to the price differential. This action results in a corresponding movement downward of the change determining rack 202, thus producing a resultant movement of rack 282 which is proportional to the amount of coins deposited less the price differential provided for the selected article.

As can be seen by reference to FIGURES 4, 5, and 9, the member 262 carrying the wire 266 has the same movement as does the changedetermining rack 202. The wire 266 is positioned in a hole 264 representing the base price for which the machine is set. The arrangement of parts is such that when change is to be given wire 266 drives arm 272 through a distance proportional to the sum in change to `be given. Y Y i In response to actuation of a plunger 42, bar 304 moves to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to rotate changer slide drive arm 388 in a counterclockwise direction. When this occurs, the stud 312 on arm 308 acts through the overload link 316 iirst to move the change slide coupling arm 328 to a position at which its lug 326 engages a surface 328 of the change determining cam 278. In the course of this operation liange 330 moves behind a number of lugs 236, 238, and 240 and arm offset 244 depending on the sum in change to be given. Upon further movement of arm 308, the slide 276 moves to the right, as viewed in-FIGURE 5, and the flange 338 which has moved behind certain of the lugs or tabs 236, 238, and 240 and arm offset 244 engages the lugs or the arm to move the corresponding blades to the right to dispense a number of coins such as nickels in change corresponding to the sum to be given in change. In the course of this operation, the stop 346 prevents movement of those blades other than the ones which should be Vactuated in response to the position of change determining cam 278. When the accumulated height of four coins, such as nickels, is less than the distance b in FIGURE 8, spring 248 operates in the manner described hereinabove to ensure that the correct number -of coins are dispensed. After the dispensing operation is complete andY change has been given the parts return to their normal positions. As slide 276 returns, its lug 333 engages the tabs or lugs of those changer blades which have been actuated to return the blades to their position within the housing.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a multiple-slide, single-reservoir coin dispenser which selectively dispenses diiferent numbers of coins. The operation of our dispenser is certain to ensure that the correct number of coin with the housing. The Queeg effect cannot cause our mechanism to jam. A single Vcoin cannot provide a driving engagement between two blades. v

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed Without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specilic details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir adapted to hold a supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, means mounting said slides in-superposed relationship for movement from positions at which they receive coins from said reservoir to positions at which received coins areV dispensed, drive means comprising a drive member adapted to engage said slides below the uppermost of said slides and means including a resilient connection for coupling the uppermost of said slides to said drive member.

2. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir for holding a supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each having an opening adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, each of said slides having a tmckness which is less than the thickness of the thickest coin to be dispensed, means mounting said slides in superposed relationship for movement from positions at which said openings are positioned in alignment with the reservoir to receive coins from said reservoirtopositions at which received coins are dispensed, said openings in the slides above the lowermost slide being formed with lower cam surfaces extending into said openings for a distance such that said distance plus the thickness of a slide is greater than the thickness of the thickest coin to be dispensed and means for driving said slides.

3. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir for holdinga supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, means mounting said slides in superposed relationship for movement from positions at which they receive coins from said reservoir to positions at which said received coins are dispensed, drive means for said slides, yieldable means providing a connection between the uppermost of said slides and said drive means to permit relative movement between said drive means and said uppermost slide when said slide is restrained against movement and means responsive to movement of another of said slides for freeing said uppermost slide to permit said yieldable means to kmove said uppermost slide to a position at which it moves in phase with the other slides.

4. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir for holding a supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, means mounting said slides in superposed relationship for movement from positions at which they receive coins from said reservoir to positions at which received coins are dispensed, drive means for said slides,

. an arm, means mounting said arm for pivotal movement on the uppermost one of said slides, resilient means normally positioning said arm 'to be coupled to said drive means, means for coupling said drive means to said arm, said resilient means permitting relative movement between said arm and said uppermost slide under the action of said drive means when said uppermost slide is restrained against movement and means responsive to movement of another of said slides for freeing said uppermost slide to permit said resilient means to move said uppermost slide to a position at which it moves in phase with the other slides.

5. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir for holding a supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each having an opening adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, each of said slides having a thickness which is less than the thickness of the thickest coin to be dispensed, means mounting said slides in superposed relationship for movement from positions at which said openings are positioned in alignment with the reservoir to receive coins from said reservoir to positions at which received coins are dispensed, said openings in the slides above the lowermost slide being formed with lower cam surfaces extending into said openings for a distance such that said distance plus the thickness of a slide is greater than the thickness of the thickest coin to be dispensed, said openings being formed with upper cam surfaces extending into said openings to a predetermined depth, the depth of said upper cam surfaces and the thickness of said slides being such that the distance from the lower edge of the upper cam surface of the uppermost slide to the bottom of the lowermost slide is less than the accumulated thickness of a number of the thinnest coins being dispensed equal to the number of slides and means for driving said slides.

6. A coin dispenser including in combination a reservoir for holding a supply of coins to be dispensed, a plurality of slides each having an opening adapted to receive a coin from said reservoir, means including a slide housing having a top mounting said slides in superposed relationship for movement from positions at which said openings are positioned in alignment with the reservoir to receive coins from said reservoir to positions at which received coins are dispensed, said mounting means providing a predetermined clearance between the top of the uppermost slide and the top of said housing, said openings in the slides above the lowermost slide being formed with lower cam surfaces extending into said openings for a distance such that said distance plus the thickness of a slide is greater than the thickness of the thickest coin to be dispensed and means for driving said slides, said clearance permitting a slide to move upwardly under the iniluence of said driving means when the cam surface of a slide is engaged by a coin of a stack of coins received by ysaid slide openings.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COIN DISPENSER INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A RESERVOIR ADAPTED TO HOLD A SUPPLY OF COINS TO BE DISPENSED, A PLURALITY OF SLIDES EACH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A COIN FROM SAID RESERVOIR, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SLIDES IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP FOR MOVEMENT FROM POSITIONS AT WHICH THEY RECEIVE COINS FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO POSITIONS AT WHICH RECEIVED COINS ARE DISPENSED, DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING A DRIVE MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SLIDES BELOW THE UPPERMOST OF SAID SLIDES AND MEANS INCLUDING A RESILIENT CONNECTION FOR COUPLING THE UPPERMOST OF SAID SLIDES TO SAID DRIVE MEMBER. 